Instrument Series: ADCPS-L

Instrument Name

Velocity Profiler (75 kHz)

Science Discipline

Physical

Class Description

Velocity Profiler (long range) uses acoustics to measure 3D water-current velocity for a small volume of the water column above or below the sensor. The long range sensor is able to measure the current 500 meters or greater from the sensor. High frequency sound waves (75- to 600-kHz) emitted by the profiler scatter off suspended particles and back to the sensor. The sensor calculates velocity by measuring changes in these sound waves (i.e., Doppler shifts). This instrument is also referred to as an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).